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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 19 2006, 10:56 AM EDT (current) | folkrockman | 47 words added |
| Jul 19 2006, 10:24 AM EDT | folkrockman | 120 words added |
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At Budokan (1979)
The musicians:
References:
Trivia:
Reviews:
From The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia by Michael Gray:
"Bob Dylan at Budokan [1978] Dylan’s third ‘live’ album, all within a five-year period and revisiting
many of the same songs. This double-LP was recorded live in concert in Japan, where Dylan
began the tour with the band that appeared on the Street Legal studio album (the largest band he’s
ever used on stage). A good recording that includes re-workings of many Dylan classics, it is a pity it
caught Dylan and the band before they reached the magical, incandescent form they hit later that
year in Europe and North America. The tour was remarkable in re-asserting Dylan’s
power and relevance in an entirely different decade from the one he had shaped so significantly.
The album is a pale souvenir of what went down, yet the freshness of focus Dylan brings to these
songs is especially dramatic: ‘I Want You’, ‘Ballad of a Thin Man’, ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’, ‘The Times
They Are a-Changin’’, ‘Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right’ and ‘All Along the Watchtower’. The album
cover includes a cringemaking quote about leaving his heart in Kyoto (though the album was recorded
in Tokyo) and on-stage photos of Dylan dressed up like ELVIS in Las Vegas.
Many bootlegs from the same tour outshine this release, as is always the case with official ‘live’
Dylan recordings. There is a fine 6-CD set, ranging right across the tour and the year, which among
much else shows that the early Japanese concerts were altogether more alive and effervescent than
Budokan has had us believe. The band was hot— and what generous expressiveness we get from
Dylan. Lovely, heartfelt, instinctive vocal phrasings and filigrees pouring out of him all the way
through. Budokan misses much of it."
From Folkrockman --
"I’m not a fan of live albums but how can any Dylan fan not like this album? The arrangements on some songs aren’t what we’re used to but they are refreshing and fun. Dylan once said that he left his heart in Japan on this one and this comes through on the album. He seems so upbeat, confident and full of life. I like the muscians on these concerts too. They seem to really capture the upbeat nature of Dylan's vocals. You can tell his voice is starting it’s decline but he performs the songs wonderfully. I disagree with the tone of Michael Gray's analsyis above. Using a term like "pale souvenir" doesn't do this album justice."
Best Song:
"Simple Twist of Fate"
Acording to Alias
To me, the most authentic song on the album is "Like a Rolling Stone" but I'm particularly partial to that song no matter what record it's on. -- Folkrockman (But "I Shall Be Released" is pretty cool too!)
Favorite Lyric:
"She should have seen me in my prime"
Acording to Alias
"I see my light come shinin' ..."
Folkrockman
- Mr. Tambourine Man
- Shelter from the Storm
- Love Minus Zero/No Limit
- Ballad of s Thin Man
- Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
- Maggie's Farm
- One More Cup of Coffee (Valley Below)
- Like s Rolling Stone
- I Shall Be Released
- Is Your Love in Vain?
- Going, Going, Gone
- Blowin' in the Wind
- Just Like a Woman
- Oh, Sister
- Simple Twist of Fate
- All Along the Watchtower
- I Want You
- All I Really Want to Do
- Knockin' on Heaven's Door
- It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
- Forever Young
- The Times They Are A-Changin'
Notes and Reviews
The musicians:
References:
Trivia:
Reviews:
From The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia by Michael Gray:
"Bob Dylan at Budokan [1978] Dylan’s third ‘live’ album, all within a five-year period and revisiting
many of the same songs. This double-LP was recorded live in concert in Japan, where Dylan
began the tour with the band that appeared on the Street Legal studio album (the largest band he’s
ever used on stage). A good recording that includes re-workings of many Dylan classics, it is a pity it
caught Dylan and the band before they reached the magical, incandescent form they hit later that
year in Europe and North America. The tour was remarkable in re-asserting Dylan’s
power and relevance in an entirely different decade from the one he had shaped so significantly.
The album is a pale souvenir of what went down, yet the freshness of focus Dylan brings to these
songs is especially dramatic: ‘I Want You’, ‘Ballad of a Thin Man’, ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’, ‘The Times
They Are a-Changin’’, ‘Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right’ and ‘All Along the Watchtower’. The album
cover includes a cringemaking quote about leaving his heart in Kyoto (though the album was recorded
in Tokyo) and on-stage photos of Dylan dressed up like ELVIS in Las Vegas.
Many bootlegs from the same tour outshine this release, as is always the case with official ‘live’
Dylan recordings. There is a fine 6-CD set, ranging right across the tour and the year, which among
much else shows that the early Japanese concerts were altogether more alive and effervescent than
Budokan has had us believe. The band was hot— and what generous expressiveness we get from
Dylan. Lovely, heartfelt, instinctive vocal phrasings and filigrees pouring out of him all the way
through. Budokan misses much of it."
From Folkrockman --
"I’m not a fan of live albums but how can any Dylan fan not like this album? The arrangements on some songs aren’t what we’re used to but they are refreshing and fun. Dylan once said that he left his heart in Japan on this one and this comes through on the album. He seems so upbeat, confident and full of life. I like the muscians on these concerts too. They seem to really capture the upbeat nature of Dylan's vocals. You can tell his voice is starting it’s decline but he performs the songs wonderfully. I disagree with the tone of Michael Gray's analsyis above. Using a term like "pale souvenir" doesn't do this album justice."
Best Song:
"Simple Twist of Fate"
Acording to Alias
To me, the most authentic song on the album is "Like a Rolling Stone" but I'm particularly partial to that song no matter what record it's on. -- Folkrockman (But "I Shall Be Released" is pretty cool too!)
Favorite Lyric:
"She should have seen me in my prime"
Acording to Alias
"I see my light come shinin' ..."
Folkrockman
